Control valve mechanism for fluid motors



C. E. ADAMS CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID MOTORS Nov. l5, 1949 s sheets-snelst 2 Filed May 14. 1946 INVEN TOR. CECIL E. ADAMS MGM (Q1/Mam- Nov. l5, 1949 c. E. ADAMS CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM FOR FLUID MOTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 14. 1946 hl, 2 u 8 93 8W n.88 7 5 4 4 e L 4 o6 58 2 6 i 5 ll 2 /6 I v3 .I5II' J IN V EN TOR.

CECIL E.ADAMS f turn of the element to a starting position.

0i' operation the motor in 'eachfdirection V- Patented Nov. l5, 1949 PATENT oFFlci-'z l y f, n* 2.488.109

` CONTROL FOR FLUID ceci! n'. Adams, columbus, ohio, assignmto The Denison Engineering Company,

` Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Columbus,

Application any 14, 194s. serial No. ssass'z Thisl invention relates generallyto" hydraulic apparatus'jand isparticularly directed to valve mechanism for controllingv the flow offnuid from a pressure source to a reversible hydraulic motor to cause `the operation of said motor in a particular manner. The valve is especially useful inthe control of a machine element Suchas, for example, the'ram of a press. While lthe valve is also usefulin other capacities, it lis described in the present application as a control for` ahydraulically operated ram.V 1

One of the objects` of the present inventionV is to provide a valve kmechanism which mayfbe manuallycontrolled to" govern theow offhydraulic pressure to areversible' iiuid motor to cause the simple' 'reciprocationof a machine element throughout the :full length ofv stroke `for which the element vhas been designed.

Another vobject ofthe rpresent invention is to Vacclaim. (Cl. 60-52) all of the manners Another object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism having elements which coact to direct uid flow through the mechanism to effect the operation of a fluid motor in a particular manner, one of the elements being manually controlled and another being at least partially operated by iiuid pressure, other elements also being provided in the mechanism to regulate the application of the fluid pressure to the element operated thereby. With such a valve mechanism, almachineelement, such as the ram of a hydraulic press, may be caused to operate in any or set forth in the paragraphs above.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 594,963, filed May 21, 1945.

Further objects and advantages of the present Y invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being hd to the accompany- `V ingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

Another object of the invention is to'providea "valve mechanism which may be manually operated to cause a machine element, such as a press 'framfto perform an advancing stroke, execute a series of short reciprocations or intermittent ...pressing impulses, which may be continuedfor any period: of time determined by the operator,

thisfseries of impulses being followed by the j A further object of the invention is toprovide desired to 'arrest and'retain the`V elements inl-any:

positionaor stage of-.operation. 1

vA still further object of the invention" is to'prol vide 'a valve mechanism which may bev actuated to cause thermachine element"v to -returnllto-finitialor starting position at-any timefand from*l In the drawings:

'V Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a hydraulic *circuit in which a valve formed in accordance with the present invention, has been incorpojrated;

' Fig.' 2'i's a detail vertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line r- II---II of Fig. 1;

Fig 3 is a detail vertical transverse sectional vview taken on the plane indicated by the line I Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing parts ofthe valve in a different relation;

"f *Fig 5 is a similar view showing parts of the valve in a still diierent relation;

fon the plane indicated by the line VII-VII of 'Y' Fig. 4.

' Particular reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings any stage of operation at-thelwillof the operatorf `Aifur-ther object-of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism Lwhichnissimilar inlfunction toi-an4 open center four-way-valveand has-means 1 associated therewith-for repeatedlyadjusting the vvalve lto automatically#cause ar fluid` motoricon-'i trclledthereby to kalternate its` direction-Lofr op- 4:erationas many `times as desired,the mechanism :also Vhaving means vfor regulating Jthe '.distan'ce will show that the fluid system lil in which the Ivalve Il, formed in accordance withthe present -1 invention, isdisposed includes a pressure source designated generally by the numeral v reversible fluid motor I3 which, in the present i1- lustration, comprises a cylinder and piston slidably mounted therein and flow conduits which v''fserve to connect the fluid pressure source and the f1 Amotor I3 to the control valve mechanism l I. Any fllsuitable source of iluid pressure may be emlployed, the one illustrated including the uid resrvoir I4, a motor driven pump I having an inlet pipe I6 extending from the reservoir to the pump, and an outlet pipe I1 leading from the pump to a pressure relief valve I 8. This valve may be of conventional construction and includes a return pipe through which fluid may be by-passed by the relief valve I8 directly back to the reservoir I4 when a predetermined pressure is exceeded in line I1. A fluid line 2| leads from the relief valve I8 to the inlet port 22 of the valve mechanism II and a pair of conduits 23 and 24 extend from cylinder ports 25 and 26 of this mechanism to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the cylinder 21 which forms a part of the reversible fluid motor I3. A tank line 28 leads from the outlet port 30 of the valve mechanism to the reservoir I4. The valve mechanism II functions to control the flow of fluid pressure from the source I2 to and from the motor I3 to effect the reciprocation of the piston 3l in the cylinder 21. A ram 32 projecting from the piston 3I serves to utilize the motion of the piston in performing useful work.

' From Figs. 2 to '1, inclusive, it will be observed that the valve mechanism II comprises a body 33 in which the ports 22, 25, 26 and 38 are formed. These ports terminate at their inner ends in annular grooves spaced longitudinally of a vertical bore 34. For convenience, the annular grooves bear the same reference numbers as the ports connected therewith. Additional annular grooves 35, 36, and 31 are also formed in the body around the bore 34 for purposes which will be set forth hereafter.

Fluid fiow between the various ports in the body 33 is controlled by a pair of relatively movable valve elements 38 and 48. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the element 38 takes the form of a sleeve having an integral bottom wall 4I and longitudinally spaced' rows of laterally extending ports 42 to 48, inclusive. The upper end of the sleeve 38 is closed by a plug 58 in which a central recess 5I is formed for the reception of a coil spring 52, the upper end of this spring being received in a socket 53 formed in a cap member 54 which is attached to the body 33 to close the open upper end of the bore 34. The spring 52 normally tends to urge the sleeve 38 downwardly until a, shoulder 55 provided thereon adjacent the upper end contacts a complemental shoulder 56 formed in the body 33.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the valve element 48 is disposed for longitudinal sliding movement in the sleeve 38, the element 4D having a reduced section which serves in the various positions of sliding movement of the element 40, to connect certain sets of ports in the sleeve 38. The member has a longitudinally extending socket 58 formed therein for the reception of a coil spring 60 employed to normally urge the mem'ber 48 to the position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6 at the lower end of the sleeve 38spring 60 abutting the plug 58 positioned in the upper end of the sleeve 38. A stem 6I projects from the lower end vof the sleeve 38 through a packing gland 62 provided at the lower portion of the body 33 and this stem is connected by a coupling 63 to the upper end of a shipper rod 64 employed to control the operation of the valve and in turn the movement of the ram 32. Movement is imparted to the sleeve 38 through the shipper rod 64 by the actuation of a control lever 65 which is pivoted to a suitable support as at 66. An arm 61 is rigidly attached to the ram, as at 68, and projects around the shipper rod 64, this arm serv- 4 lng to engage the coupling 63 or a suitable collar, not shown, on the shipper rod to transmit motion from the ram to the valve element. When the knob 18 on the outer end of the lever 65 is moved up or down, movement in the opposite direction will be transmitted by the shipper rod 64 to the sleeve 38 and the valve element 40 contained therein. When the ram 32 is at its elevated or initial starting position, the uid flow directing elements, 38 and 48, will be disposed in the relation shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At this time the press, or other machine of which the ram 32 forms a part, will be at rest. When the flow directing elements 38 and 40 are so disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, uid from the pump I5 may now through the lines I1 and 2I to the inlet port and groove 22, through the port 45 to the interior of the sleeve 38 from which it will flow outwardly through the ports 44 to the groove 31 which is connected by horizontal and vertical passages 1I and 12 with the outlet port 38, liuid being exhausted through tank line 28 to the reservoir I4. By by-passing the fluid in this manner, the pump I5 may be operated without load when the uid motor I3 is idle.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6 the passage 1I is provided with screw threads for the reception of a plug, not shown, which may be used to block the passage 1I when it is desired to use the exhaust flow during idle periods of the motor I3 for the operation of some other mechanism. When passage 1I is thus blocked, a, second passage 13 formed in the body 33 in communication with groove 31 and generally closed by a plug 14A may be connected with the additional mechanism to be operated. The fluid will then flow from the power source through the passages enumerated above and out of the valve casing or body 33 to the conduits leading tothe additional device.

Fluid under pressure from the source I2 may be directed to the upper end of the cylinder 21 to cause the ram 32 to advance or move downwardly by depressing the knob 18 on the lever 65. This motion moves the sleeve from the position shown in Fig. 2 designated in some of the claims as an intermediate position, to a first extreme position shown in Fig. 4 in which port 42 formed in the sleeve 38 will register with annular recess 36 in the body 33. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and '7, recess 36 is connected by passages 14, 15, 16, and 11 with the inlet port 22 whereby fluid under pressure may flow from the inlet port 22 to the an nular chamber 36 and through the ports 42 to the interior of the sleeve 38 beneath the valve element 40. This fluid under pressure will move the element 40 against the opposition offered byl the spring 60 to an upper position as illustrated in Fig. 5. When element 40 is so disposed, iluid under pressure may flow from the inlet 22 through ports 44 to the interior of ,the sleeve and upwardly thereinto the ports 46 through which it will flow to the annular chamber 25. This Achamber is connected with the cylinder port 25 and fluid introduced thereto will ilow through conduit 23 to the upper end of cylinder 21.

It will also beobserved that when the element A4I) is in the raised position, ports 18 formed in the lower head 88 thereof will register with ports 43 in the sleeve which ports register at this time with the cylinder port and groove 26, this port and groove being connected by the conduit 24 with the lower end of the cylinder 21. The pressure on the fluid introduced to the upper end of the cylinder may therefore force the piston downwardly, causing the iluid beneath the same ameno@ to be exhausted through the line 24 to the port and groove 28 through the ports 43 and 18. into the interior of the element -40 which has been counterbored in registration with the port 18.

This exhaust uid may flow from the counterborein the member 40, through a reduced opening k8l in a plug 82 threadedly received by the member 40, and through the hollow interior of thisl member to the upper end of the sleeve where Yitg'may be exhausted through a drill in cap 50 or through the ports 48 to the exhaust ports 38. From the description thus far, it will be apparent that when the control 10 is moved downwardly, fluid under pressure will be caused to actuate the valve element 40 to place the elements 38 and 40`insuch a relation that fluid from the power source may ilow to the upper end of the power unit or motor I3, exhaust iluid may ow from the lower end thereof to the reservoir I4, and the power unit may then operate in what may be termed a forward direction. A

To secure certain operating characteristica'the flow of uid under pressure from the inlet port 22 to the annular groove 38 is interrupted, after the member 40 has been elevated, through the operation of a spool valve 83 arranged for sliding movement in the passage 11. This spool 83 has a head 84 which serves, when the spool valvefi's moved downwardly, to block the passage 11 so that fluid may not flow from the port 22 through the passage 11 to the passage 16. Va1ve=83 is normally urged toward an open position by a coil spring 85 disposed between the bottom of the passage 11 and the lower end of the valve; To close the valve 83, fluid under pressure is supplied to the upper end thereof through a passage 86 which leads from the annular groove 25to a chamber 81 formed at the upper end of the pas?- sage 11, through ports formed in a needlevalve casing 88 'and a longitudinal passage 89""also formed in this needle valve casing. The cylinder port 25 receives a restriction 90 which servesto insure sufficient pressure for the operation of spool valve 33, even though the motor I3'iso`per-y ating without load.

It will thus be seen that as soon as fluid under pressure is supplied to the motor I3, the ow o f fluid from the pressure source to the underfside of the valve element 4B will be interrupted. This valve element 40 will be retained in an elevated position, however, by the fluid being exhausted This'eX- will be maintained as long as iluid is beingv 'ex-" hausted from the lower end of the fluid motor 'When the piston 3| stops in its movement to- Will f be connectedwith *the iluid reservoiri vthe lowerend of the inotor willbel kconnected with "sho/wn' ln'Flg. 4'.' theupper 'endlofi the duidl and the I iiuid' pressure source." y vkFluid under pressure -will therefore immediately `start?` to" *ow to the lower end fof the power kunit move vthe piston yand ram l'upwardly or in a reverse direction( Y'The iluid pressure, flowing into the valve mechanism VI I through kthe "line 2|, 'will ilow' from the'inlet 48, sleeve 38 and ports H4l tothe outlet port 130 whichis connected by the line 28 with the reservoirl'll. Inasmuch as groove 25 is connected with the' reservoir, fluid under pressure in passage `11 above valve83` will be dissipated through passages 89, 88,81; and 88 and spring 8.5l at the lower end of spool 83 may then expandto force the spool valve upwardly until it is stopped through engagement with the lower end of the needleAv-alve casing. At Athis time, iluid may ilow from the inlet port 22 through the passage 11 to passage 16 from which it will flow" through passages 1-5 andl14 to the groove 36 'and from this groove through'ports 42 to the interior of thel sleeve 38` beneath ythe valve element 40. This fluid pressure will againmove the'valve element 40 upwardly in opposition to Iward the lower end of the cylinder 21 for any reason, the back pressure in the counterbored portion of the element 40 will be dissipated through the opening 8|, and the pressure iiifthe sleeve below the element 40 will be dissipated through the opening 9|. Spring 80 mayth'en expand to move the element 40 to the lowermfost with the sleeve sa held in its e1evated position the spring" 6'0 to ythe position shown in Fig.\5 wherein fluid under pressure will again be directed to `the .upper endbfthe iluid motor cylinder 21. This fluid 'will cause the piston to reverse its'direc: tion of travel and move forwardly orv downwardly ina pressing stroke. "n I The lengthof time the valve element remains in'its `lowered:position shown in Fig. `land conf sequentlythe distance moved upwardly by' the ram 32-and piston v3| lis determined by the setting ofil thefneedle valve''93 "in, the housing therefor. Ifthe1needle"valve is onlyslightly fopen;A iluid pre ssure"above spool valve 83 will 1be"slowly. dissipatedaridl movement lof, this spool valve toan openfpos'ition will be'l retarded.; Fluid 'flow from the"-pressure source to the underside of thepiston.

3 I 'will `thusb'pro'longed andthe piston 'and ram 32 `-willrrlo'vve a'greater distance than if the needle valve i'siullyoperied and the spool valve 83 moved quickly` to an open position. 'It should'be apparent from the above descriptionthatas soon as the valve 40 is elevated, iluid undef-pressure will again be applied to the kupper end o fL the spool 83 V`toclose this valve to cutI the ilow of fluid from'the inlet portto the groove 38 and the underside ofy the valve 48. 0f QOil''se,

even though' thisfow lis dis continued, the exhaust will ilw ffi'vor'nvthe'` lower end of thev cylinder?? rtairifthe v'alv'elelement in an elevatedp and th "motor I3jvvill continue to move `in warddirect'ion' until stopped by titler engagerr; oflth'priston 3.1 with the lower end of thel cylirr der j'2-1` `or the engagement of the ram 32 `withanl obstructionfwl'iiclfiv oier's'more resistance thanjth feige f.d'rel'.a'd.".ly"uid pressure in #heurter n, yllndr21gat the settingQf the relief vaivejls; his vaiyegcperaung to spiu'riuia` ,telthe I 4` hen a predetermined'pressure'per 'eli' as .n een`r applied to the iluidingthe 48 will be dissipated as previously described, and the element 40 will again move to its lower position in the sleeve 38. As long as the control lever 65 is held in a depressed condition and the sleeve 38 in an elevated position as a result thereof, the ram 32 and piston 3| will reciprocate as above described through a portion of the full stroke thereof.

The distance traversed by the piston and ram during these reciprocations is determined by the setting of the needle valve 33 which may be adjusted through the manipulation of a. control knob 84 carried by the upper end of the needle valve and disposed exteriorly of the body 33.

When it is desired to discontinue the reciprocations of the piston and ram and return the same to initial starting position, the knob 18 may be released to permit spring 52 to move the sleeve 38 to its lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 6.

At this time ports 42 in the sleeve 38 will register with annular groove 35 which is connected by an angular lateral passage 95 with the lower end of vertical passage 12, the latter being connected at its upper end with the outlet port 38. The fluid pressure in the sleeve 38 beneath the valve element 48 will thus be instantly dissipated, permitting the element 40 to move to its lowermost position wherein fluid introduced from the fluid pressure source through the inlet port 22 will flow through the port 45 to the interior of the sleeve and outwardly therefrom through ports 44 to the cylinder groove 26, from which it will flow by way of line 24 to the lower end of the cylinder 21.

`When the valve elements 38 and 40 are thus positioned, the upper end of the cylinder 21 will be connected with the reservoir by line 23, cylinder port and groove 25, ports 41, the interior of the sleeve 38, ports 48, outlet port 30, and tank line 28. Fluid pressure under the piston 3| will therefore move the piston upwardly until the arm 61 connected with ram 32 engages coupling 63, or a collar secured to the shipper rod 64, and moves the sleeve 38 to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position fluid under pressure from the pressure source will be by-passed directly to the reservoir I4 at which time the ram will come to rest.

When the sleeve kis positioned as shown in Fig. 2, an annular groove 96 in the exterior thereof connects the groove 26 and a lateral passage 81 in the body so that fluid under pressure seeping into passage 26 will be returned to the reservoir via passage 12 and thus be prevented from flowp ing to the lower end of the cylinder 21 to move piston 3l. It should be obvious that the ramv and piston may be returned to starting position from any stage of movement merely by moving the control lever 65 to an upper position. This movement will take place automatically if the knob 18 is released.

With the valve mechanism described, it is possible to secure a ram operation known in the trade as lnching. This operation is a gradual downward movement of the ram in a working stroke. To secure this gradual movement the lever 65 is depressed through the actuation of the knob 18 until the sleeve 38 has been elevated sufficiently to cause the registration of the ports 42 with the groove 36. At this time, as previously described, fluid under pressure will flow from the inlet port 22 through passages 11, 16, and 14 to the groove 36 and through the openings 42 into the sleeve 38 beneath the valve element 40. This fluid under pressure will move the valve element to its upper position shown in Fig. 5 wherein iiuid under pressure is supplied from the inlet port 22 and the groove 22, through sleeve ports 44, through the interior of the sleeve, and thence through ports 46 to cylinder groove and port 25 from which this fluid will ilow through conduit 23 to the upper end of the power cylinder 21. When the sleeve is elevated in this manner, the lower end of the power cylinder is connected with the fluid reservoir I4 as previously described through the registration of port 43 with the groove 26. By limiting the upward movement of the sleeve 38 so that ports 43 do not fully register with groove 26, the quantity of fluid permitted to be exhausted from the lower end of cylinder 21 may be controlled. In this manner the speed of movement of ram 32 and piston 3l may also be controlled.

To cause the ram 32 to remain in a lowered position and exert holding pressure on an article while the knob 10 is held depressed, the needle valve 93 may be screwed down to a completely closed position in which fluid under pressure will be prevented from ilowing through lines 86, 81. 88 and 89 to the upper end of valve spool 83. This valve spool will then remain in an open position permitting uidto flow through passages 11, 16, 15 and 14 to the groove 36 from which it will new through ports 42 to the underside of the valve element 48. This element will thus be held in an upper position shown in Fig. 5 in which fluid under pressure will be continuously supplied to the upper end of the power cylinder 21. When the needle valve is in this position of adjustment, the knob 10 must be raised to permit the ram to return to its initial starting position.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

Iclaim:

1. In a hydraulic system, a fluid pressure source, a reversible fluid motor,` an open center four-way valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fluid from said source to said motor to govern the operation thereof, said four-way valve being movable between two extreme positions through an intermediate position, said valve directing fluid from said source tosaid motor to cause reverse operation thereof when in one extreme position and both forward and reverse operation thereof when in the other extreme position, the fluid from said source being directed to exhaust when said valve is in intermediate position; and means operating in conjunction with said valve when the same is in the extreme position providing both forward and reverse operation to vary the distance of forward and reverse operation of said motor. .y

2. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure; a reversible fluid motor; means for controlling the operation of said motor comprising a casing having primary and secondary flowdirecting elements, said primary element being movable relative to said casing between two extreme positions through an intermediate position, said secondary element-being movable between ilrst and second positions relative to said primary element; means for moving said primary element from said intermediate to one of said extreme positions; means responsive to fluid pressure when said primary element is in said one extreme position to apply fluid pressure to said secondary element to move the same from the ilrst to the second position, said fluid pressure responsive means being inoperative when said secondary element is in said second position; means for returning said secondary element from said second to said rst position; and means for moving said primary element from one extreme position to the other.

3. In a hydraulic system, a source of iluid pressure; a reversible fluid motor; means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from said source to said motor to eect the operation thereof comprising a casing having primary and secondaryflow-directing elements, said primary element being movable between first and second extreme positions through an intermediate position rela.- tive to said casing, said secondary element being movable between first and second positions relative to said primary element; said motor operating in a forward direction when said primary element is in the iirst extreme position and said secondary element is in its iirst position and in a reverse direction when said secondary element is in its second position while said primary element is in the first extreme position; and means responsive to iluid pressure when said secondary element is in the first position to apply fluid from said source to said secondary element to move the same to said second position.

4. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure; a reversible iluid motor; means for controlling the ilow of fluid pressure from said source to said motor to cause forward and reverse operation thereof, said means having a manually movable member a pressure responsive shuttle valve; and, means responsive to fluid pressure when said manually movable member is in one position to apply fluid pressure from said source to said shuttle valve to move the same to a position to direct fluid from said source to said motor to operate the same in one direction; and, means operative when the operation of said motor in said one direction ceases to move said shuttle valve to a second position to operate said motor in the opposite direction while said manually movable member is maintained in said one position.

5. In a hydraulic system, a source of uid pressure; a reversible fluid motor, a four-way valve mechanism for controlling the ilow of fluid pressure from said source to said motor to effect the operationthereof, said valve mechanism having a valve element movable between two extreme positions through an intermediate position; iluid flow control means having a fluid connection and cooperating with said valve element to cause alternate forward a'nd reverse operation of said motor, said means being continuously operative when said valve element is held in one extreme position; and means for regulating the length of operating periods of said motor in either direction, movement of said valve element to said intermediate position serving to arrest said motor at any selected stage of operation.

6. In a hydraulic system, a source of uid pressure; a reversible uid motor, a four-way valve mechanism for controlling the flow of uid pressure from said source to said motor to eect the operation thereof, said valve mechanism having a valve element movable between two extreme positions through an intermediate position; uid ow control means having a fluid connection and cooperating with said valve element, said means being actuated in part by fluid pressure to cause alternate forward and reverse operation of said motor and being operative as long as said valve element is maintained in one extreme position; and means for regulating said fluid pressure actuated means to vary the rate of response thereof,

1o movement of said valve element away from said extreme position serving to render said uid pressure actuated means inoperative.

7. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluidA pressure; a reversible iluid motor; flow control means for governing the operation of said motor comprising a body provided with inlet, outlet and cylinder ports; valve means disposed for movement in said body to connect certain ports, said valve means having sleeve and spool members movable relative to one another; means in said body for directing fluid from said pressure source to said members to move the same from one relative position to another, the ow of uid pressure to said members being interrupted in the second relative position of said members; means in said body for vgoverning the operation of said fluid directing means; and means for selectively moving one of said members to render said fluid directing means ineiective.

8. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure, a reversible iuid motor; now control meansA for governing the operation of said motor comprising a body provided with inlet, outlet and cylinder ports; valve means disposed for movement in said body to connect certain ports, said valve means having a. sleeve member movable between two extreme positions in said body; a spool member movable between two positions-relative to said sleeve member; means operative when said sleeve member is disposed approximately in one extreme position to direct iiuid from said pressure source to said valve means to cause said sleeve and spool members to be disposed in certain positions relative to one another, said last-named fluid-directing means being rendered inoperative by the placing of said members in said certain positions; means for returning said members to the positions they occupied before the application of lluid pressure thereto, and means for selectively actuating said valve means to render said valvereturning means operative.

9. In a hydraulic system, a source of uid pressure; a power unit having a cylinder and piston disposed for reciprocation therein; means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from said source to said power unit to effect the movement of said piston comprising a casing having inlet and exhaust ports; a sleeve element in said casing; a

spool member disposed for movement in said sleeve element, said sleeve and spool being movable relative to said casing; means connected with said sleeve element for moving the same to selected positions; and means in said casing operated in part by uid pressure when said sleeve member is in a selected position to change the relation between said sleeve and spool to cause repeated reciprocation of said piston, movement of said sleeve to another selected position serving to render said last-named means ineffective and cause the return of said piston to initial position.

10. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure; a power unit having a cylinder and piston disposed for reciprocation therein; means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure from said source to said power unit to effect the movement of said piston comprising a casing having inlet and exhaust ports; a sleeve element in said casing; a spool member disposed for movement in said sleeve element, said sleeve and spool being movmember is in a selected position to change the rel1 lation between said sleeve and spool members to cause repeated reciprocation of said piston, movement of said sleeve to another selected position serving to render said last-named means ineifective and cause the movement of said piston toward initial position; and means operated by said piston for moving said sleeve member to a position between said selected positions to connect said pressure source with said exhaust when said piston reaches its initial position.

1i. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure; a power yunit having a cylinder and piston disposed for reciprocation therein; means for controlling the ilow of fluid pressure from said source to said power unit to enect the movement of said piston comprising a casing having an inlet port connected with said pressure source, cylinder ports connected with opposite ends of said cylinder and an exhaust port; a multiple part ilow directing means movably disposed in said casing to connect either cylinder port with said inlet port and the other cylinder port with said exhaust port; control means for moving said flow-directing means and maintaining a part thereof in selected positions; and means in said casing operating automatically, when the first mentioned part oi' said flow-directing means is held in a selected position, to shift another part of said flow-directing means to alternately connect said inlet and exhaust ports with each of said cylinder ports.

12. In a hydraulic system, a source of fluid pressure; a power unit having a cylinder and piston disposed for reciprocation therein; means for controlling the flow of iluid pressure from said source to said power unit to eiect the movement of said piston comprising a casing having an inlet port connected with said pressure source. cylinder ports connected with opposite ends of said cylinder and an exhaust port; flow-directing means movably disposed in said casing and operative to connect either cylinder port with said inlet port and the other cylinder port with said exhaust and to connect the inlet and exhaust ports; control means for moving said flow-directing means and maintaining a part thereof in selected positions; means in said casing operating automatically when the first mentioned part of said flow-directing means is held in a selected position, to adjust another part of said now-directing means to alternately connect said inlet and exhaust ports with each of said cylinder ports, said automatically operating means being rendered ineffective when the first mentioned part of said flow-directing means is moved by said control means to another selected position whereby the inlet port will be connected with a predetermined cylinder port; and means responsive to movement of said piston for moving said flow-directing means to a position to connect said inlet and exhaust ports.

13. In a hydraulic system, a fluid pressure source, a reversible iluid motor, an open center four-way valve mechanism for controlling the flow of iluid from said source to said motor to govern the operation thereof, said four-way valve vbeing movable between two extreme positions l2 providing both forward and reverse operation to vary the distance of forward and reve'rse operation of said motor; and additional means also operatins in conjunction with said valve for rendering said mst-mentioned means inoperative.

14. A control valve mechanism for fluid motors comprising a casing having an internal chamber and. inlet, motor and exhaust ports communicating therewith; valve means disposed in said chamber for movement to various positions to establish communication between certain of said ports; passage means in said casing operating in one position of said valve means to apply fluid at inlet port pressure to said valve means to move the same to another position; and additional valve means in said passage means. said additional valve means being responsive to fluid pressure when said first-mentioned valve means has been moved by fluid pressure to the latter position to interrupt the application of fluid pressure to said first-mentioned valve means.

15. A control valve mechanism for fluid motors comprising a casing having an internal chamber and, inlet, motor and exhaust ports communicating therewith; valve means disposed in said chamber for movement to various positions to establish communication between certain of said ports; passage means in said casing operative in one position of said valve means to apply uid at inlet port pressure to said valve means to move the same to another position; additional valve means in said passage means, said additional valve means being responsive to fluid pressure when said first-mentioned valve means has been moved by fluid pressure to the latter position to interrupt the application of uid pressure to said first-mentioned valve means and, means for varying the rate of response of said additional valve means to said fluid pressure.

16. A control valve mechanism for fluid motors comprising a casing provided with an internal chamber and inlet, motor and exhaust ports communicating therewith; valve elements disposed in said chamber for movement relative to said casing, said valve elements also being movable relative to one another to control communication between said ports; means for moving said valve elements back and forth in said chamber; yieldable means for moving one of said valve elements relative to another in one direction; passage means in said casing operative in one position of said valve elements relative to said casing to apply fluid at inlet port pressure to said valve elements to move the said one element in opposition to said yieldable means; and a valve element in said passage, said valve element being operated by fluid pressure when said one element has been moved in opposition to said yieldable means to interrupt the application of fluid pressure to said valve elements through said passage means.

17. A control valve mechanism for fluid motors comprising a casing having an internal chamber and inlet, motor and exhaust ports communicating therewith; valve means disposed for movement in said chamber, said valve means having a ported sleeve and a spool disposed for movement in said sleeve to connect certain sets of ports therein, the ports in said sleeve communicating with certain ports in said casing in one position and other ports in another position; yieldable means normally urging said sleeve and spool toward certain positions; means for moving said sleeve in opposition to said yieldable means; passage means in said casing operative when said sleeve is in a certain position to connect the inlet ment in said chamber, said valve means having a ported sleeve and a spool disposed for movement in said sleeve to connect certain sets of ports therein, the ports in said sleeve communicating with certain ports in said casing in one position and other ports in another position; yieldable` means normally urging said sleeve and spool toward certain positions; means for moving said sleeve in opposition to said yieldable means; passage means in said casing operative when said the interior of said sleeve.

14 sleeve is in a certain position to connect the inlet port in said casing with the interior of said sleeve at one end of said spool to apply iiuid at inlet port pressure to the spool to move the same in opposition to said yieldable means; a second valve means Yinr said passage, said second valve means being responsive to fluid pressure when said spool is moved in opposition to said yieldable means to interrupt iiuid flow through said passage means; and adjustabie means for regulating the rate of application of tluid pressure to said second valve means.

CECIL E. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent; Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS l Number` Name l Date 20 1,931,452 Wheeler Oct. 17, 1933 2.212,871 Wood Aug. 27.' 1940 

